EXECUTIVE 

WHEREAS:     

1.      A review of the role, structure and function of the Core Groups began in November 2005 as part of a broader initiative to assess effectiveness and relevance of the CCR structure and consultations were held with the Executive, Working Group Chairs and Core Group Chairs and members as well as a workshop session at the November 2006 Consultation.

2.      There was consensus on the vision of what Core Groups mean for the CCR as an organization. They are an entry point into greater participation in the work of the CCR, especially for persons who are new to the CCR. Both expertise in the issues and experiential knowledge are important and enriches the perspectives of the Core Groups and of the whole CCR.

3.      It is important to recognize that the Core groups have been very successful with various projects; hence the review was undertaken with the goal of building on past successes and the ongoing commitment of members to the issues.

4.      While we have a common vision of possibilities, we also agreed that the Core Groups each function quite differently in style and in outcomes. In general the Core Groups are not always fulfilling the vision for very many reasons, including:

• the composition of membership,
• the nominations and election process,
• poor linkage with Working Groups,
• the lack of profile for the Core Groups within the organization and
• the absence of any structured orientation, training and mentoring for new members

5.      During the consultation process various models were discussed and modified after further consultation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1.           The CCR reduce the number of Core Groups to 2

1. The Communications Core Group will be eliminated but the communications function will be retained as a staff role with assistance from members. (e.g. regional advocates)
2. The Anti-Racism Core Group and the Gender Issues Core Group be sustained;
3. Each core group will have six elected members and one member appointed by the Executive;

2.           The CCR will work towards a formal commitment to an anti-oppression policy. Both Core Groups and the Executive will take leadership to ensure this is achieved by May 2009.

3.           The CCR will implement a new nominations and election process as follows:

1. A Nominating Committee for Core Group membership will be elected at the Spring General Meeting;
2. 3 persons will be elected and should be representative of the interests of the Core Groups and Working Groups;
3. The Chair of the Nominating Committee will be identified at the time of the election of the Committee;
4. The Nominating Committee will recruit nominations from the membership and recommend a slate of nominees, including the position of Co-Chair, taking into account skill, expertise, leadership development, participation of new members and regional representation;
5. Half of the Core Group members (three) including one co-chair will be elected at each Annual General Meeting;
6. the term will be for two years with two terms consecutively allowed;
7. one Executive member will be appointed by the Executive to each CG;
8. Co-Chairs of Core Groups may wish to recruit resource persons who have a special interest or expertise on a particular aspect of work being undertaken by the CG.

4.           That the CG Co-Chairs fully implement the new job description and terms of reference as recommended by the Executive beginning in November 2007 taking into consideration existing guidelines and including the following;

1. The Core Groups ensure that issues of inclusion and anti-oppression are integrated into the discussions and activities of the Working Groups. The CGs may see opportunities for education and awareness building on emerging issues. They may provide emphasis or perspective on current anti-oppression issues and support the Working Groups in developing policy and actions. For this reason the CGs and the WG Co-Chairs must work closely in developing and sustaining the agenda of the Working Groups and that of the Core Groups.
2. Co-Chairs are expected to attend the Working Group Meetings or to appoint a Core Group member to attend on their behalf. The Executive Member appointed to the Core Group will also attend the WG meetings to ensure ongoing presence when Co-Chairs and members are unable to attend.
3. The Core Group Co-Chairs and WG Co-Chairs will work together to develop a workplan for presentation to the Winter Working Group Meetings and provide to the Executive.
4. Each Core Group will undertake to do at least two sessions at the Working Group meetings to build awareness on anti-oppression issues with a view to the development and implementation of an anti-oppression policy by May 2009.
5. Core Groups may undertake specific projects or collaborate with one or more Working Group on projects, workshops, information sharing etc.
6. Core groups are responsible for organizing one workshop per year at a CCR Consultation as part of their annual workplan and involving at least one Working Group in the theme and development.
7. Core Groups will provide a short written update report (1 page) on their activities for distribution to every Working Group meeting and for posting on the website.

5.           That the Co-Chairs of the Working Groups and the Core Groups work collaboratively to ensure that anti-racism and gender issues are an integral part of the CCR’s activities, especially in the Working Groups;

6.           That the Core Groups have increased opportunities to communicate their role and activities to the CCR members.

IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT

WHEREAS:     

1.      IRPA and the Québec immigration regulations currently prohibit siblings from combining their income in order to sponsor their parents or grandparents and other members of the Family Class;

2.      This arbitrarily keeps families apart;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR request a change in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, as well as the Québec Regulation respecting the Selection of Foreign Nationals to allow the combining of siblings’ income to meet the qualifying income level to sponsor parents or grandparents and other members of the Family Class.

WHEREAS:     

1.      Racism and xenophobia, especially as directed towards immigrants and refugees, is alive and well in Canada;

2.      This is manifested through legislation, policy and practice and has a brutal and lasting impact on immigrants and refugees;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR:

1.           Ask the government to report periodically on how it is countering racism and xenophobia with specific attention to the impact on immigrants and refugees;

2.           Ask the government of Canada to establish an independent review body to review, with respect to racism and xenophobia, programs and policies that have a bearing on refugees and immigrants;

3.           Ask the federal and provincial governments to implement mandatory anti-racism training for all their employees.

4. EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

WHEREAS:     

1.      There are no minimum standards or process to address the educational gaps of refugee children and youth;

2.      Education standards vary from one school division/district and from one province to another;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR advocate for:

1.           An education policy/strategy to address the gaps for refugee children and youth;

2.           A compulsory course in cross-cultural education for teachers in consultation with the CCR and service providers;

3.           Adequate funding for educating children and youth who have interrupted schooling.

5. BLUE RIBBON REPORT

WHEREAS:     

1.      Treasury Board of Canada released a Blue Ribbon Report in February 2007 recommending fundamental change and simplified administration of funding, contracts and contribution agreements;

2.      The settlement service sector has ongoing difficulties with CIC and other federal government departments on their funding practices and monitoring of contracts and contribution agreements;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR urge the Treasury Board of Canada to:

1.           Direct CIC to adhere to the Blue Ribbon Report recommendations and to be the first tier of government departments to implement recommended changes;

2.           Ensure that the recommended changes are implemented in all government departments.

OVERSEAS PROTECTION AND SPONSORSHIP

6. CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR DURABLE SOLUTIONS IN PROTRACTED REFUGEE SITUATIONS

WHEREAS:     

1.      The length of protracted refugee situations is increasing, leading to impoverishment and deprivation of the refugees in these camps and urban settings;

2.      Canada is committed to working towards finding durable solutions for persons in protracted refugee situations including repatriation, local integration and resettlement;

3.      All refugees will benefit from education and skills training made available before persons leave the camps, especially but not exclusively those being resettled;

4.      The CCR and more recently the UNHCR have expressed to the government of Canada their interest in engaging Canadian NGOs in resettlement activities abroad, including those with an integration focus, recognizing the benefits to the refugees and to the receiving communities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the CCR:

1.           Request to the Government of Canada, especially CIDA and CIC, to work with NGOs to develop a Canadian strategy to address protracted refugee situations that uses all tools at Canada’s disposal including funding for preventative health treatment, job skills training, health treatment, education etc. in refugee camps and urban settings;

2.           Urge the Government of Canada to amend the Terms and Conditions of various instruments to allow for more flexibility and responsiveness in programming, including the flexibility to fund integration programming overseas;

3.           Request the Government of Canada that Canada’s contributions to the World Bank include instructions that poverty reduction strategy papers should include strategies to help reduce poverty within refugee populations.

7. AFRICAN REFUGEES

WHEREAS:     

1.      There are evident disparities in processing of African refugees’ files in terms of waiting times, refusal rates and systematic DNA testing, in comparison to other regions;

2.      African refugee situations are among the most protracted in the world.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the CCR:

1.           Request the Government of Canada establish an NGO-Government Committee on African refugee and immigrant issues to further monitor and document the situation and propose viable solutions;

2.           Seek collaboration on these issues with Canadian Council on International Cooperation (CCIC), especially the CCIC Africa Group;

3.           Once again request to be involved meaningfully in the Annual Levels Consultation process.

8. INCREASED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

WHEREAS:       1.      The situation of many refugees is dire, particularly that of Iraqis in Syria, Jordan and Turkey;

                        2.      Canadians, particularly those involved with private sponsorship, wish to be as helpful as possible;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the CCR request that the Canadian government increase the overall numbers of refugees to be resettled in Canada, and that, within this increase, special consideration be given to increasing the number of Iraqis to be resettled.

INLAND PROTECTION

WHEREAS:     

1.      The needs of persons with mental health issues are not being adequately addressed by any of the divisions of the IRB;

2.      The guidelines for vulnerable persons do not meet these needs;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR advocate for the creation and implementation by the IRB of specialized mental health tribunals modelled upon the mental health courts in the criminal justice system.

WHEREAS:     

1.      The IRB offices are now located in only 3 cities (Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto);

2.      PIFs must be received within 28 days;

3.      Claimants living in cities far from IRB offices have seriously reduced time to complete their PIFs because mailing can take 7 to 12 days;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR urge the IRB to change the 28 days rule for PIFs to the date the PIF is posted, not the date it is received (even when it becomes possible electronically).

WHEREAS:     

1.      Eligible refugee claimants are required to apply for work permits from CIC;

2.      Work permits are issued if applied for after the medical examination processing is completed;

3.      Completion of the medical examination process is not announced to refugee claimants, and they are never sure when to apply for their work permit, and work permits are required for applying for the SIN cards and for working legally in Canada;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR request that CIC issue the first work permits automatically, without claimants having to apply, to all adult eligible refugee claimants, upon completion of the medical examination process. 

WHEREAS:     

1.      NGO access to CBSA Immigration Detention Facilities is necessary;

2.      NGO access has become increasingly difficult given strict requirements for security clearance;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CCR demand that NGOs that visit or provide services within immigration detention facilities not be required to pass security clearance

WHEREAS: CBSA has refused to grant NGO access to their Vancouver airport detention facility;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the CCR demand that CBSA ensure NGO access to this facility.

WHEREAS:  Some countries do not allow for adoption and thus persons from those countries are excluded from emigrating with or sponsoring their “de facto” family members.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CCR advocate for the promulgation of IRPA regulations on legal guardianship.